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Third person accused of murder in Orchard Mesa slaying

A man originally charged as an accessory in the slaying of a man last month on Orchard Mesa is now accused of murder.

Aaron Ungles, 26, 180 Edlun Road, was arrested late Wednesday on a Mesa County Sheriff’s Department warrant for suspicion of first-degree murder after deliberation, felony murder, aggravated robbery and a sentence-enhancing charge for use of a weapon while committing a violent crime.

The warrant was sealed Wednesday.

Ungles had been free on bond, charged with six counts of identity theft in connection with the death of 38-year-old Rigoberto Luna, who was allegedly choked to death with a lug wrench and his body dumped under a tree on a dead-end path off 29 3/4 Road. The body was discovered a passerby Oct. 22. Luna’s Jeep was stolen, his pants were stripped and his debit card was stolen.

Early in the investigation, Ungles implicated a local couple, Nathan David Dennis and Sadie Patricia Camis, both 28, as the sole participants in the killing. Dennis and Camis are both charged with murder, among other counts. Ungles originally told investigators that Dennis explained he needed to “get rid of” Luna just after midnight Oct. 21, according to the affidavit In Dennis’ case.

Camis, who knew Luna, had called Luna asking for a ride while the trio had partied together earlier on Oct. 20 at a local bar, the affidavit said. Camis and Dennis smoked marijuana and used methamphetamine before seeking a ride from Luna, the affidavit said.

“(Aaron) stated that Sadie was involved in the plan and said she would give a signal and then Nathan and Aaron were to jump the man,” the affidavit said. “Aaron thought Nathan may have been angry with the man because the man had been flirting with and touching Sadie.”

Ungles said he was sitting behind Camis, who was driving Luna’s Jeep Cherokee as Luna was sitting in the front passenger seat around the time of the assault. Dennis was sitting behind Luna. A fifth occupant, Lindsay Peters, Ungles’ girlfriend, sat in the middle half of the back seat.

Ungles’ earlier statement continued: “Nathan waited for Sadie’s signal, but she never gave a signal. Nathan finally decided not to wait any longer for the signal, grabbed a star or box-style lug wrench, put it in front of (Luna’s) neck and started to strangle him from behind, using the wrench on the male’s neck,” the affidavit said.

Peters insisted she tried to make Dennis stop, “but Aaron grabbed her and told her to stop and that they did not want to be involved,” the affidavit said.

Ungles orginally claimed he’d used Luna’s debit card and made several ATM withdrawals, but insisted he gave all the money to Dennis, the affidavit said.